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The Compass Alehouse (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Shivering Sands - Estuary Porter |  | 1 |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Best | | 1 |
| Shivering Sands - Maunsell Bitter | | 2 |
| Kent - Green Ernest | | 1 |
| Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGB | | 1 |
| Brew York - Keras | | 1 |
| Redemption - Hopspur |  | 1 |
| Tonbridge - Ebony Moon | | 1 |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Everytime | | 1 |
| Northdown - Buck | | 1 |
| Kent - Breakfast Oatmeal Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - The Quiet American | Not Tried | 0 |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Milk Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Evening Star Revival APA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Cascade - Blonde | Not Tried | 0 |
| By The Horns - Hopadelic | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Cobnut | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kirkstall - Jasper | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Jumping Frog | Not Tried | 0 |
| Redemption - Kazbek | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Café Brasilia | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Prohibition | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Skylarking | Not Tried | 0 |
| Gun - Project Babylon Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Apparition Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Shivering Sands - Ribersborg Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Three Acre - Mighty Mosaic Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Vista | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Target | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
18 Oct 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
7th and final visit of the outing: Second visit of the day to this first micro to open in Gravesend. By mid-evening as it was now, packed and so retreated to the middle part of it housing its kitchen and some bar stools and a suitable shelf.
It looked far less bright than earlier in the day when in daylight. In fact earlier I thought they had given it a lick of paint it was so bright. This of course was not the case! The couple running it had taken over from the volunteers in the afternoon and I was suitably greeted in the customary friendly fashion and served without delay after being told one from earlier had been changed to another.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brew York - Keras | 3.50 | | Fresh on was this session pale from York's city centre and by the River Foss, and so sporting a very good head and lacing and lasting throughout. A citrusy first hit. A gentle hoppiness rising from its two US hops, Cascade and Chinook. A good hint of citrus in on its dry-hopped mix. Dry-hopping is where the hops are added to beer after the main fermentation and so escaping the heat of the boil. This aids the beer's intense hoppy aroma and flavour without increasing bitterness. The technique, started centuries ago when British brewers added hops to casks to aid preserving the beer for long sea voyages, was revived by the US craft beer movement in the 1980s to create beers with more intense hop aroma and flavours. A pleasantly fruity hoppiness therefore sailing out and not in the least too bitter for my taste buds. |
| Tonbridge - Ebony Moon | 4.20 | | Very good head and lacing presented on this East Peckham-based porter from north of Paddock Wood in Kent. A very dry malty first bite. A good bitter chocolatey and coffee-infused maltiness veering up with touches of honey layered on. A hint of dark berry fruitiness from its Kentish hops, Northdown, Bramling Cross and Golding, adding to its malty appeal sailing out. |
18 Oct 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
2nd visit of the outing: Not packed as is customary for my usual Saturday mid-evening visits to Gravesend's first micropub and opened in September 2014. Volunteers help out the couple running it on Saturday afternoons and prompt, friendly service provided by one of the two volunteers on for the usual choice of four real ales. Seating for our group of four in the main front area but also a small covered courtyard and a small separate backroom offer alternative areas to be seated in.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Green Ernest | 4.60 | | Very good head and lacing and lasting on this green hopped pale ale from Birling, north of West Malling. A fresh hoppy first bite. A dry hoppy oiliness rising. A good hoppy explosion from this modern variety, Ernest hops, behind this brew and to delight my taste buds with all their freshness captured. A moreishly hoppy, oily dryness pervading and drifting out in its finale. |
| Tonbridge - Ebony Moon | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Cobnut | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale | 3.90 | Not Tried |
13 Sep 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Not overly busy for my mid-evening visit to Gravesend's first micro and the last visit of the outing before the train back. Usual friendly service and good banter with punters in.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Best | 4.10 | | Very good head and lacing and lasting. A mildly fruited first hit on this bitter from Small Dole, north of Shoreham-by-Sea, and with the brewing set up in 2012. A hoppy bitterness rising from its Admiral, Perle, Galena and Challenger hops. A gentle fruited note or two getting in on the act and a hint of caramel and toffee joining in. A moreishly dry bitterness playing out. Very quaffable! |
| Kent - Breakfast Oatmeal Stout | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - The Quiet American | 4.20 | Not Tried | Ran out during my visit. |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Evening Star Revival APA | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Cascade - Blonde | 3.80 | Not Tried |
02 Aug 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
A pitstop for a change of trains from Broadstairs to London on the return journey is this welcoming little micro just 5 minutes from Gravesend station. Busy for our mid-evening visit but served promptly in the usual friendly way and a choice of 4 real ales on for our remaining party of two.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shivering Sands - Estuary Porter | 4.10 | | In fine form and often is the way that Thanet ales follow me back from a daytrip to Broadstairs. This Manston-brewed porter from west of Ramsgate presented good head and lacing and lasted throughout. A moreishly smoky first bite to it. A good bitterness rising up. A hint of chocolate and toffee mixed in with coffee and liquorice. A gentle hoppy bitterness sailing off into the sunset. |
| Kent - Vista | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Target | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Everytime | 3.80 | Not Tried |
14 Jun 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
A suitable pitstop on the way back from Broadstairs as a need to change trains unlike when going in the morning when they run a direct one for you during the summer months. Busy as always for my mid-evening clamber into this little micro just up from the station and the usual friendly prompt service.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northdown - Buck | 4.80 | | Funny how Thanet often follows me back when I pop into The Compass midway between Broadstairs and London. This Margate ale, I was advised by one of the couple running their micro, tastes better than it looks. This Amercian wheat beer did indeed taste not too bad! Good head and lacing and lasting. A touch of ginger-infused hoppiness on its first hit for me. An orange-peel-infused fruitiness rising up on my taste buds along with a dry bitterness. A lingering fruitiness was aided by its Citra and Galaxy hops in the mix and being dry-hopped with Huell Melon, giving it its aromas of melon, wild strawberry and peach. The brewer describes it as a foggy yellow American wheat and indeed it was as hazy as it could be without it having the consistency of a thick soup! A half comfortably sufficed between trains. |
| Shivering Sands - Ribersborg Stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Shivering Sands - Maunsell Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Three Acre - Mighty Mosaic Pale Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried |
07 Jun 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Fifth and final visit of the outing to this little micro nearest the station and not too busy to squeeze into and survey the four cask beers on. Out of four, one pale, one wheat beer, one bitter already tried at The Three Pillars, and one stout. Opted for another pale to follow on from the Spoons' pale. Warm friendly service from the couple running this ever-popular micro.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol Beer Factory - Everytime | 3.80 | | This Bristol session pale came with very good head and lacing and lasted. A dry hoppy first hit. A pleasant hoppiness on the palate, with tropical fruitiness with hints of stonefruit rising up and also aided by the Idaho 7 hop, delivering citrus and orange notes. A hoppy moreish dryness lingering. |
| Shivering Sands - Ribersborg Stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Shivering Sands - Maunsell Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Northdown - Buck | 4.80 | Not Tried |
19 Apr 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy but not quite rammed for our mid-evening pitstop at this fine micro in changing trains from Broadstairs to London at Gravesend. Usual friendly welcome and prompt service from the couple running it.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shivering Sands - Maunsell Bitter | 4.00 | | Thanet following me on my journey back to London in getting this Manston-based amber bitter, south-east of Birchington-on-Sea, and from Shivering Sands set up in 2020. Good head and lacing. A dry bitterness was the first hit. A gentle spicy fruitiness in the mouthfeel and a dry bitterness lasting. |
| Gun - Project Babylon Pale Ale | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Skylarking | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Apparition Stout | 4.40 | Not Tried |
15 Feb 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busier than usual for my mid-evening and final visit of the day in Gravesend. Standing room only in this little micropub. Still managed to get served almost straight away and with just the two owners staffing it.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGB | 4.10 | | In fine form was this hoppy bitter from Birling in Kent with plenty of head and lacing. A very dry mouthfeel lingering with all the hoppiness from the Golding and Fuggles hops. Very moreish! |
| Kent - Prohibition | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Skylarking | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Café Brasilia | 4.30 | Not Tried |
08 Feb 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Usual busy footfall for my mid-evening visit and friendly and prompt service as always.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shivering Sands - Maunsell Bitter | 4.00 | | In great shape with its head and lacing on display throughout on this dark amber ale from this Thanet-based brewery near Ramsgate in Kent. A spicy first hit. A bitter and hoppy mouthfeel and a moreish bitterness lingering. |
| Pig & Porter - Jumping Frog | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Redemption - Kazbek | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Café Brasilia | 4.30 | Not Tried |
11 Jan 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy but not so crammed as of late for my mid-evening visit. Usual friendly, prompt service.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redemption - Hopspur | 4.50 | | Good head and lacing on this Tottenham amber ale. A very bitter first hit. A fruity mouthfeel. A sweetness of caramel, toffee and honey was left lingering. |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Milk Stout | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| By The Horns - Hopadelic | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Kirkstall - Jasper | 3.40 | Not Tried |
About The Compass Alehouse
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 1 |
| 82 |
| 50 |
 | 10 |
 | - |
The pub is found in Gravesend, Kent, DA12 1AA.
Micropub which opened at lunchtime on Friday 26th September 2014. Located in Manor Road just a couple of minutes from the railway station and town centre. A shop conversion from an old dairy which had, most recently, been an estate agency. Real ales and ciders sold on gravity dispense from a largish several tier stillage in a temperature controlled cold cellar room. High tables and bench seating (some incorporating wood from church pews) partition the floor space in the front room. There is further drinking space around the kitchen area and a small yard garden and smoking area at the very back. Unisex toilet. All glasses are lined measure. Closed on Mondays. Local CAMRA branch Pub of the Year 2022 and 2024.
We have visited this pub 81 times, seen 256 different beers and tried 118 of them.
Postcode: DA12 1AA